A near new semi-automatic (''clutchless'') motorbike can be rented for Rp 40,000 per 24 hr; older bikes may come for less, and fully automatic bikes such as a Honda ''Vario'' or Yamaha ''Mio'' may sometimes cost Rp 5,000-10,000 more.

A near new semi-automatic (''clutchless'') motorbike can be rented for Rp 40,000 per 24 hr; older bikes may come for less, and fully automatic bikes such as a Honda ''Vario'' or Yamaha ''Mio'' may sometimes cost Rp 5,000-10,000 more.

−

Cars can be had rented for around Rp 350,000 for 24 hr, or Rp 225,000 for 12 hr. A driver can be hired along with the car for another Rp 50,000-Rp 200,000/day. Prices may vary due to fuel inclusion for a set distance or itinerary. Prices are always subject to negotiation and may increase or decrease due to local demand, type and age of vehicle and your individual requirements at the time.

+

Cars can be had rented for around Rp 350,000 for 24 hr, or Rp 225,000 for 12 hr. A driver can be hired along with the car for another Rp 50,000-Rp 200,000/day. Prices may vary due to fuel inclusion for a set distance or itinerary. Prices are always subject to negotiation and may increase or decrease due to local demand, type and age of vehicle and your individual requirements at the time. Cars are usually rented with drivers and it is strongly advised for foreigners as the roads are extremely busy with all the hundreds of thousands of higher ed students driving motorcycles recklessly around the city. I think you can get a better price than quoted here. In my experience, driving yourself in Bali is fine but not recommended for cities in Java like Yogya or Jakarta. Price of rental doesn't include petrol (gas), parking, entrance fees etc. It is customary to give your driver 15,000 rps during any mealtime stops but he won't expect to eat with you.

If renting please ensure you are familiar with both the applicable licensing requirements and vehicle use in the prevailing conditions.

If renting please ensure you are familiar with both the applicable licensing requirements and vehicle use in the prevailing conditions.

Revision as of 04:19, 12 July 2013

Yogyakarta— despite the official spelling, the name is usually pronounced and not uncommonly written Jogjakarta or just Jogja (JOGH-jah) — is a major tourist destination in Indonesia. It is the capital city of the province of Yogyakarta Special Region which is in the southern part of the Central Java province, Indonesia.

Understand

Yogyakarta is a bustling town of some 500,000 people and the most popular tourist destination on Java, largely thanks to its proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. The town is a center of art and education, offers some good shopping and has a wide range of tourist facilities.

Strictly speaking, the city (kota) of Yogyakarta is only one of five districts within the semi-autonomous province of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY), literally the "Yogyakarta Special Region". (The other districts are Sleman on the slopes of fiery Mount Merapi to the North, Bantul all the way to the sea to the South, the hills of Gunungkidul to the East and the low lands of Kulon Progo to the West.) This special status is thanks to the Sultanate of Hamengkubuwono, which has ruled the area since 1749 and steered the state through difficult times of occupation and revolution. During the Indonesian war of independence, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX offered the fledgling Indonesian government his enclave as capital city, thus Yogyakarta became the revolutionary capital city of the republic from 1946 to 1949 when Jakarta was still occupied by the Dutch. As a result, the central government recognized the Sultan of Yogyakarta as the appointed governor of the province of DIY; the only one in Indonesia that is not elected directly by the people. The Indonesian central government has tried to weaken the sultan's power by calling for direct election for the governor, however the present sultan Hamengkubuwono X was chosen by an overwhelming majority.

Alas, Yogyakarta lies in one of the most seismically active parts of Java and has thus repeatedly been struck by earthquakes and volcano eruptions. The worst in recent times was the earthquake of May 27th 2006, which killed over 6,000 people and flattened over 300,000 houses. However, the epicentre was 25 km north of the city, which thus avoided the worst of the quake, and a surprisingly effective disaster recovery effort saw most of the physical damage repaired quite quickly.

Only four years later, in October 2010, the nearby volcano of Mount Merapi erupted, spewing lava over nearby villages and killing 353 people. After rumbling on and off for two months amid fears of another Krakatoa devasting the entire island, the volcano quieted down by December 2010. On past form, it'll be another 2-3 years until the next small eruption and 10-15 years until the next biggie, so pay a visit while you still can!

Get in

Yogyakarta City map

By plane

Yogyakarta's Adisucipto International Airport (IATA: JOG), 8 km east of town, is a small but busy mostly-domestic hub. There are frequent (every two hour) connections on Garuda, the national airline, to Jakarta (50 minutes) and 2-3 times a day (60 mins) to Denpasar, while other domestic airlines service both Jakarta and Denpasar, as well as major cities in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. For international services, AirAsia [23] connects Yogyakarta to both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore while Malaysia Airlines [24] flies between Yogyakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

There is a tourist information desk, ATM and taxi stand in the arrival hall. Official airport taxis are available for around Rp 50,000 depending on your destination, pay at the taxi desk in arrival terminal and then head for the official taxi rank. Give the receipt to your driver, there is no need for any additional payment. It is about half the price to use a taxi dropping passengers off at the departure terminal - insist on using the meter, do expect to pay the Rp 2,000 airport entrance fee, even though this has already been paid by the previous passenger on the way in. A departure tax of Rp 35,000 (as of January, 2011) is charged for domestic flights and Rp 100,000 for international flights.

Yogyakarta airport is the sole rail-connected airport in Indonesia. Those arriving from (and departing into) the airport can take a Prambanan Ekspres regional train to/from Kutoarjo (west of Yogyakarta), Palur (just east of Surakarta) and several stations in between, including Tugu (just off Malioboro Street in Yogyakarta) and Solobalapan station at Solo. The station at the airport is just a few minutes walk from the terminal, with an air-conditioned underpass leading all the way to the platform for trains into Yogyakarta.

There is also a bus station inside the airport which is part of the Trans Jogja Busway System. From there you can get to any one of the many bus stations in their system. It costs Rp 3,000 for a ticket.

If you are going north, to Borobudur temple or Semarang for example, head to Jombor terminal located just above the northern Ringroad. Expect to be ripped off on any bus to Borobudur, the going rate for westerners at the moment is Rp 15,000-25,000 (local Rp 7,000).

If you are planning to come to Yogyakarta from Bandung then you need to go to Cicaheum Terminal in Bandung to get bus. If direct bus is not available then take bus to Purwokerto (6-7 hr, Rp 45,000). From Purwokerto there are regular buses available for Yogyakarta (4-5 hr, Rp 30,000).

Since Yogyakarta is in close proximity with Semarang and Solo, there's also a shuttle bus that operates between these cities, called Joglosemar (Jogja-Solo-Semarang), Rp 45,000 to Semarang, and Rp 25.000 to Solo

By train

Trains to Jakarta take between 7-12 hr from the main Yogyakarta station, commonly called Tugu Station. The Argo-class trains (Argo Lawu and Argo Dwipangga) are the best of the lot being the most comfortable and fastest (~8 hours, Rp 255,000-360,000 (Sep 2012) including mineral water and snacks). Taksaka is almost as good at Rp 235,000-265,000. These express services connect Yogyakarta and Jakarta in 7-8 hours, either at daytime or overnight. Price and schedules are available online [25]. The line between Kroya and Prupuk, where the railway crosses the main backbone mountains of Java, is scenic.

Passengers to/from Bandung should take the Argo Wilis or Lodaya expresses which traverse a scenic part of Java during daylight hours, with rice fields and mountains (although there is an overnight Lodaya and the Turangga from Surabaya also travels overnight. The fare is Rp 155,000 including mineral water and food (or more like snacks).

Passengers to Surabaya are served by the twice-daily Sancaka service departing in the morning and afternoon.

Yogyakarta and Solo are connected by several Prambanan Ekspres trains. Despite the name, the train does not stop at Prambanan station, and even if it does make an unscheduled stop, the station is rather far from the temple complex of Prambanan. The Prambanan Ekspres does stop at Maguwo station (for the airport) making it easy for travelers to change modes.

Stasiun Tugu (Tugu Central Railway Station), Jl. Mangkubumi 1. ☎ +62 274 589685. The main central station, serves big city destinations such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Solo. To buy tickets, enter on Jl. Pasar Kembang and get a queue number from the stand facing the ticket windows. Then go to the opposite side of the room and fill out a ticket request slip, consulting the timetables on the wall to your left. You will be called to the appropriate ticket window, the announcement will be called (in Indonesian only) and displayed on the electronic sign on the wall.

Get around

Muscle-powered transport: becak and andong

Yogyakarta is a relatively small city, so travelling around town should not be too expensive. If you are traveling on foot, note that a street sign facing you at a corner indicates the name of the street you are entering, not the cross street. The Tourism Authority has maps in English that can be obtained from its offices next to Hotel Mutiara on Jl. Malioboro, at the airport and the train station. Beware that these maps are not to scale.

By taxi

Yogyakarta's taxis are metered and nowadays most taxi drivers are trustworthy. Flagfall is Rp 5,500 and most trips around the centre of town should not cost more than Rp 15,000. After dark the minimum fare for a taxi is Rp 10,000 even if the meter reads less that Rp 10,000. If by chance you find a taxi driver that you feel comfortable with and trustworthy, ask for his cellular phone number so that next time you need to travel you can call directly to his cell phone and arrange your travel needs. Most taxi drivers will be more than happy to do this. Virtually everyone has a cell phone which is called a "hp" (hand phone) throughout Indonesia, and everyone including all adults use text messaging (sms) extensively. It is best to use text messaging to communicate with drivers e.g. "siap" when you are "ready" to be picked up. "Tolong jemput Bpk/ Ibu di Hotel XXXX jam XXXXX" = Please pick up sir/ madame at hotel XXXX at XXX o'clock. Note: "jam" in Indonesian = time, not the sweet jelly you put on your toast.....

By trishaw

Traditional three-wheeled and pedal-powered cart, known as becak (pronounced beh-chak), which can be found in most part of Yogyakarta. Haggle furiously before getting into the becak. Be sure to determine whether the price is for a one-way or return (pulang) trip and if you want the driver to wait whilst you conduct your shopping or business. A ride from within the city to the Malioboro shopping precinct should not cost more than Rp 10,000.

By horse cart

Traditional horse-pulled carts, known as andong, or dokar, wait for tourists outside hotspots like the train station, the Kraton and Mal Malioboro. Haggle furiously. The traditional route is from Jl. Malioboro to Keraton, and this is where you'll find most andong. Usually, andong opt to take you to shop for fake Dagadu t-shirt in Ngasem area with hefty prices. Then, andong will take you back to your initial journey. The cost for one round trip for andong is Rp 20,000. Usually they ask for Rp 30,000 but they may settle for less. Andong can accommodate up to 5 adult passengers.

By bus

Medium and small size buses are the main public transport in Yogyakarta.

TransJogja Bus Stop

There are two kind of bus: regular and patas. Patas buses, known as TransJogja operate from 6AM to 10PM and stop only at designated shelters. Unlike regular buses, TransJogja is air-conditioned and generally safer. Tickets can be purchased directly at the shelters and cost for single trip is Rp 3,000. Passengers may purchase regular trip cards which cuts per tip cost to Rp 2,700, and allows transit to other shelter. There are six routes, and route maps can be downloaded [26].

Regular buses normally operates from 6AM to 5PM, and some long routes extend their operation until 9PM. Please never bring anything valuable on public buses, pickpockets in buses are now more common than ever before. Cost for single trip is Rp 2,500 regardless of distance (within the city). Usually on a bus there will be one driver and one helper who will hang from the side of the bus and handle money and try to get passengers. The helper will usually tap you on the shoulder to indicate you should pay him. If there is no helper you can pay the driver directly. When you are ready to get off a bus, tell the driver or helper "Kiri," which means left. Animated bus route maps are available at Transportation Agency of Yogyakarta website [27].

By car or motorbike

There are several car and motorbike rental agencies just outside Tugu Station near Jalan Pasir Kembang on the street that runs east-west just south of the station.

A near new semi-automatic (clutchless) motorbike can be rented for Rp 40,000 per 24 hr; older bikes may come for less, and fully automatic bikes such as a Honda Vario or Yamaha Mio may sometimes cost Rp 5,000-10,000 more.

Cars can be had rented for around Rp 350,000 for 24 hr, or Rp 225,000 for 12 hr. A driver can be hired along with the car for another Rp 50,000-Rp 200,000/day. Prices may vary due to fuel inclusion for a set distance or itinerary. Prices are always subject to negotiation and may increase or decrease due to local demand, type and age of vehicle and your individual requirements at the time. Cars are usually rented with drivers and it is strongly advised for foreigners as the roads are extremely busy with all the hundreds of thousands of higher ed students driving motorcycles recklessly around the city. I think you can get a better price than quoted here. In my experience, driving yourself in Bali is fine but not recommended for cities in Java like Yogya or Jakarta. Price of rental doesn't include petrol (gas), parking, entrance fees etc. It is customary to give your driver 15,000 rps during any mealtime stops but he won't expect to eat with you.

If renting please ensure you are familiar with both the applicable licensing requirements and vehicle use in the prevailing conditions.

See

The tranquil sultan residence, Kraton Yogyakarta

Being one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, Yogyakarta has many heritage buildings and monuments. The number one must-see attraction is Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono's palace, better known as Kraton Ngayogyakarta. Other heritage buildings from colonial era are: BNI '46 building, Kantor Pos Besar (Central Post Office) building, and Bank Indonesia building, all of them are located near Sultan's palace.

Other notable landmarks and attractions are:

Tugu Monument, A well known landmark located in the center of downtown Yogyakarta. Built by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VI, the top spire was originally a round sphere which represents the universe. During the colonial era, the spire was replaced with a golden cylinder.

Kota Gede. The capital of ancient Islamic Mataram kingdom. The tomb of Mataram Kingdom's first king, Panembahan Senopati, is also located in this place. Before independence, Kotagede was the central economic district of Yogyakarta, as it held the largest marketplace and was home to many wealthy batik merchants. Although some ancient buildings have been modernized or replaced with newer buildings, Kotagede remains a prime example of ancient Javanese architecture and city structure. Be sure to check out the local silver handicrafts.

Imogiri, southwest of town. Graveyard of the Yogyakarta and Surakarta royal families. Suffered damage during 2006 earthquake but has reopened.

Kotabaru, which used to be Dutch officials residential area, has few heritage homes as well as a colonial style church and monastery (Gereja Kotabaru) and a stadium (Stadion Kridosono).

Kraton Complex

The Sultan's SquareAlun-alun utara, the northern Sultan's Grounds, was originally used for Sultan's army training and hence closed to public, but the area was opened to the public during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. Now, alun-alun utara is the venue for the quarterly parade known as Garebeg, which is held in the month of Maulud, Besar and Sawal. In this parade, the Sultan's servants bring huge cone-shaped offerings to the alun-alun utara. After the parade, attendees scramble to get a scrap of this offering, as it is believed to bring good luck.

Prior to the month of Maulud, a public fair is held in alun-alun utara for 30 days. This fair is very popular and offers many kind of goods ranging from traditional handicrafts to dishes from China. A unique snack sold in this event is galundeng, deep fried dough similar to a donut.

The Sri Sultan's palace or Kraton encompasses the main palace, Sultan's residential, two Sultan's grounds, and large residential area where sultan servants used to reside. Notable attraction in Kraton complex are:

Kraton Yogyakarta. A calm yet elegant Javanese heritage that consists of two separate entrances: the Main Court (Pagilaran & Siti Hinggil), and the Residence. The Main Court showcases the grandeur of Sultan's monarchy, while the Residence is more homey while still exhibiting the royal family's luxurious lifestyle. Open 8.30AM to 1PM daily, on Friday the attraction is closed at 11AM. While the guide is part of the entrance fee, they might expect tips. Some guide might offer extended trip to sultan's servants batik workshop, this is a scam as they only bring you to a regular batik shop with steep price. It's a good idea to refuse their offer politely. Rp 12,500 (foreign tourist price) or Rp 5,000 (Indonesian tourist price), Rp 1,000 extra for a photo. There are music and dance shows within the palace regularly, free with the ticket, try to check out the times when you arrive in Yogajakarta. The Sultan maintains three gamelans in the palace, and the pavilion nearest the entrance houses one of them. If they're playing, do sit down and be patient, this music takes its time.

Also worth seeing is the prince's palace to the SE of the main palace.

Sultan's Carriage Museum (Museum Kereta) . This museum houses the Sultan's horse-drawn carriages, including two beautiful carriages imported from the Netherlands and known as Golden Carts (kereta kencana).

Taman Sari, Jl. Taman, Kraton. Also known by the Dutch name waterkasteel (water castle), this is a partly ruined complex built as a pleasure garden by the first Sultan in 1765. One of the bathing pools was dedicated to the sultan's harem, and he had a tower overlooking the area so he could take his pick. Towards the back of the complex is the original entrance to the pools, which used to be a small dock connected to a long-since-vanished river; a bit of snooping beyond this entrance will get you to a back street, where one can freely visit a fascinating network of tunnels and rooms, including an Escher-like series of interlacing staircases over what looks like a disused well. Entrance fee does not cover the guide, who will expect tips. Open 9AM-3PM daily. Rp 7,000 for entrance, Rp 1,000 for a photo permit.

Puppet Show

Siti Hinggil Selatan. This somehow-muted palace is rarely used for formal occasion. You can catch a shadow puppet performance during weekend mornings and nights. There is no admission charge for the show and you can come and go as you please, which you may well want to do as the show is long and somewhat difficult to follow if you do not speak bahasa Indonesian.

Alun-Alun or the Sultan's ground. There are two Sultan's grounds: Alun-alun Utara and Alun-alun Selatan or the northern and southern Sultan's ground, consecutively. If you are lucky, you can see the Gerebeg Maulud parade during Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

Masjid Gede Kauman, one of the oldest and largest mosque in Yogyakarta. Located on the west of Alun-alun Utara, this mosque was where the Sultan performs his religious rites and ceremonies. Non-muslim visitors should wear decent clothing. It may be a good idea to ask the mosque authorities prior to entering the mosque due to some rules that must be abide.

Taman Pintar,

True to its name in this arena you can find different types of games and attractions
Planetariun a new facility that can be enjoyed by visitors and still are an integral part of the /* Kraton Complex */

Yogyakarta city was built with deep philosophy: the city was designed so that the main elements of the city forms a imaginary line. This straight line starts from Parangtritis on the coast, to Kraton Yogyakarta, to Tugu Monument, and finally to Mount Merapi. This represents Sultan's strong relationship with the guardian spirits of Mt. Merapi and the beach of Parangtritis.

Museums

Swimming pool at the Affandi Museum

Museum Affandi, Jl. Laksda Adisucipto 167 (at the beginning of the road out to the airport), ☎+62 274 562593 (affandimuseum@yahoo.com), [5]. Delightful museum built around the former home of the late Affandi, one of Indonesia's best-known painters. Several galleries, including one with 30 of Affandi's paintings from his early, impressionist and expressionist periods, and another with paintings by some of his 11 children. The artist designed some of the buildings (the central complex was originally his home and offices) himself, and the grounds themselves are worth the admission price. Helpful staff to show you around.Rp 20,000 includes a drink..

Museum Dirgantara (aircraft museum), Jl. Lettu TPA Supardal. Coordinates -7° 47' 25.26", +110° 25' 0.55". (behind Adi Sucipito Airport), +62 274 564465, +62 274 564466. M-Th 8AM-1PM, Sa 8AM-12PM. This Indonesian aircraft museum holds several antique aircraft from WWII era such as Badger bomber, MIG-15 to MIG-21, P-51 Mustang, Catalina flying boat, Auster MkII, Lavochkin LA-11, F-86 Sabre, T-33 Bird, A6M5 Zero and others. Rp 5,000. The museum is not signposted: to get there either take a cab or use a Satnav and get to the eastern end of Jl. Lettu TPA Supardal. The museum is inside the Air Force base. The guard at the entrance will require you to deposit your passport while you are inside the museum.

Museum Sonobudoyo, Jl. Trikora 6, Yogyakarta 55122 (north alun-alun), +62 274 76775, +62 274 373617 (fax: +62 274 385664). A Javanese archeology museum, has many Javanese artefacts like wayang puppets, masks, statues, textiles, weapons, as well as a full set of Javanese gamelan instruments. Worth a visit if you have some extra time in Yogya, or you are interested in Javanese culture study. Rp 3,000.

Museum Batik / Wisma Batik Jl. Dr. Sutomo No.13 Yogyakarta 55211 ☎ +62274 562338. The oldest Batik in the museum was made in 1840. There are some famous collections as well, such as Soga Jawa Long Cloths (1950-1960), Isen-isen Antik Sarong (1880-1890) which was made by EV. Zeuylen from Pekalongan, and Soga Jawa Long Sarong (1920-1930) made by Mrs. Lie Djing Kiem from Yogyakarta. The other collections are woven cloths created by the museum owner. The woven cloths feature pictures of Soekarno, Soeharto Megawati, Hamengku Buwono IX, Tuanku Imam Bonjol, Pangeran Diponegoro (all of which are Indonesian either heroes or prominent figures), and Pope John Paul II, and Mother Theresa.

Fort Vrederburg Jl. Jend. A. Yani No.6 Yogyakarta 55121 ☎ +62274 586934, Fax +62274 586934. Vredeburg Fort was once an unpretentious square fort built by Sri Sultan Hamengku Bowono I in 1760 upon the Colonial request, Nicolas Harting. On the inside of the fort, there are thousands of dioramas portraying the Indonesian struggle before the independence until the New Order. There are also collections of historical objects, photographs and paintings about the national struggle to set, achieve, defend and fill Indonesian independence. The dioramas and collections of historical objects are equipped with information on the events which occurred at that time.

Candi (ancient temples)

Candi is ancient archeological structure constructed during 7th-9th century aimed for a specific religion (Buddhist or Hindu). It was constructed from hundreds of volcanic or river stone blocks and assembled solely by human labor. Candi walls is often carved with reliefs depicting stories, and a stone God or Goddess statue usually sits at the center.

There are several candi located in Yogyakarta and it's proximity. Borobudur, one of famous candi is in Magelang, not far from Yogyakarta. Prambanan, also a well-known candi is in the Yogyakarta-Central Java border area.

Candi SambisariCandi Sambisari is very unique. Unlike other candi, it sits at estimated 6m below the ground line. It is easy to reach because it is located close to Adisucipto International Airport. You can go there by taxi. Candi Sambisari consists of one main candi and three supporting candis (perwara). You can see lingga and yoni, symbol of male and female sex, inside the main candi. In the main candi's wall, there are three statue, Agastya in south side, Ganesha in east side, and Dewi Durga in north side. From the lingga, yoni, and the statues, it has been concluded that the Sambisari was built to adore Siva Gods. There is no fixed reference about when and who built this candi. But from the Wanua III inscriptions, Candi Sambisari is predicted to be constructed in 9th century (812-838 AD).

Candi Kalasan GPS [29]Candi Kalasan is located not far from Prambanan, around 2 km to the west from Prambanan or 14 km to the east from Yogyakarta. This candi is on the south side of the Prambanan-Yogyakarta main road. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta. Constructed in late 7th century (778 AD) by Rakai Panangkaran from Sanjaya Dinasty. He was Hindu but he built a Buddhist temple, thus it reflects peacefully religion life during that time. The relief carved in this candi are known to be the most beautiful. The wall is covered by ancient white cement called bajralepa. Candi Kalasan was built to adore Dewi Tara (Tara Godess). A Boddhisatva bronze statue used to be placed inside the candi, but this statue is not there anymore.

Candi Sari GPS [30]Candi Sari is located not far from Candi Kalasan, estimated 600 m to north-east from Candi Kalasan. This candi was built as an ancient Buddhist monk dormitory. Inside the candi, there are two floors with three rooms on each floor. The reliefs is similar with Candi Kalasan's and the wall is also covered with bajralepa. There are Boddhisatva and Tara Godess carved beside the windows that show us the relation between Candi Kalasan and Candi Sari. The unique rooftop consists of 9 stupas in grid. The holes in some areas shows that woods was used to complete the construction. This candi is predicted to be build in the same era with Candi Kalasan.

Candi Ratu Boko GPS [31]Ratu Boko is an archaeological site known to modern Javanese as Kraton Ratu Boko or Ratu Boko's Palace. Ratu Boko is located on a plateau, about three kilometres south of Lara Jonggrang Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta Indonesia. The original name of this site is still unclear, however the local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king mentioned in Loro Jonggrang folklore.

Do

Masangin (masuk antara dua beringin, passing two ficus trees). This simple and fun game is held at South Alun-alun (Sultan's square). The participant is blindfolded and he/she must walk straight to pass two ancient ficus tree. Even though it sounds like an easy task, most participants usually failed. After that, you can go to the food stalls around the corner, relax a bit and have a sip of warm Wedang Ronde (ginger drink).

Sunday Morning at Boulevard UGM, every Sunday, the wide main boulevard in Universitas Gadjah Mada complex (UGM) is crowded with students jogging and practicing martial arts like Karate, Silat, and Capoeira. Wake up early at 7-9AM and head to the boulevard UGM to do a bit of exercise. After that, you can taste many kind of foods sold by stalls there. The menu includes Opor Ayam (chicken curry with rice cake), Bubur Ayam (Chicken Porridge), Siomay (fish dumplings), and Sate Ambal (chicken satay with tempeh sauce). Don't forget to check the flea market nearby.

Golf, Merapi Golf is a famous 18-holes golf course designed by international firm Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett. It is located on the slopes of Mount Merapi, where you can enjoy the scenic view of the mountains and its environs while playing golf. The course was partially damaged during the 2010 eruptions but has since been restored. Attracts visitors from all over ☎ +62 27 4896 176. There is also another, smaller Golf course located within the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Street chess, When it's quiet, particularly around the end of Malioboro Street near the Kraton complex, the becak drivers will play chess on the street with large wooden sets. You are welcome to challenge them and it's fun to do so. Bear in mind that this is how they pass the time between fares, so some play for several hours each day - you'll be up against some stiff competition. Don't offer or accept any bets on the outcome - it takes the fun out of a good way to interact with the locals and pass the time.

Learn

Yogyakarta is known as the city of education as well as the city of culture. This title is not without reason: many education institution are located here. Every year, around mid-July, thousands of new students from all over Indonesia flock into this city, converting the once quiet town to a busy yet dynamic city.

Universitas Gadjah Mada[34]. The oldest university in Indonesia and one of the largest universities in Southeast Asia. Recently The Times ranked UGM as 56th of the world’s top 100 arts and humanities universities.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta[35]. University that spesialize in education. UNY is a university for prospective teacher. However, there are pure sciences too in UNY

Institut Seni Indonesia[36]. The largest art academy in Indonesia offers various undergraduate and graduate degrees on the subject of traditional arts such as Javanese dance, wayang performance, & gamelan music, etc; to modern and contemporary arts like theatre, broadcast, & graphic design.

Universitas Islam Indonesia[37]. This is the oldest private university in Indonesia, established 40 days before the independence day of Indonesia in 1945. It is now a modern university with 9 faculties ranging from Islamic studies to Civil Engineering and Planning.

Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga[38]. Named after Sunan Kalijaga, UIN offers various courses on the subject of Islam.

Buy

Many curious goods are available in many places in this city. If you love timeless pieces, Yogyakarta is the home of batik , traditional wayang puppets, sculpture, ceramics and silverware. Countless handicrafts from outside Yogyakarta can also be found here. Don't be surprised if you bump into souvenirs from Bali or Asmat, often with better deal than if bought in those islands. Alternatively, as a constantly growing city, Yogyakarta has several stylish malls and trade centres that offer interesting goods and services at a reasonable cost.

Malioboro

Malioboro street taken from Tugu Station

Malioboro is a well-known shopping promenade and very popular among Indonesian as well as international tourists. Spans from the Tugu Station to the Sultan's square, Malioboro is 2 km in length and home to hundreds of shops and street-stalls offering various kind of handicrafts.

Ciamis Art Shop, 153 Jl. Malioboro. Shadow puppets, masks, carvings, and more at fixed prices that are lower than in the market. Open from 9AM-1PM and 6PM-9PM.

Nadzar, 187 Jl. Malioboro. Huge souvenir shop specializing in batik, art, jewellery, and more. Has every souvenir you could imagine at fixed prices.

If travelling on foot is not your thing, you can ride the pedal-powered trishaw called becak, or the andong horsecart.

Warning: While Yogyakarta is safer than Jakarta, it's not free from pickpockets. Most of the time, Malioboro sidewalk is overcrowded. Take standard precautions to protect your belongings.

Shopping malls

While not as populated as Jakarta, Yogyakarta has several trendy malls which shows a glimpse of the alternate side of Yogyakarta culture.

Malioboro Mall, Jl. Malioboro 52-58. ☎ +62 274 551888 (fax: +62 274 588242). Yogyakarta's premier shopping mall for shopping in hassle-free, air-con comfort. Features a large Matahari department store, a Hero supermarket (B1F), a Periplus book store with a good English selection (B1F), and all the usual suspects of Western and Indonesian fast food (McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, EsTeler 77, etc). Home to the largest Dagadu outlet.

Handicrafts

Saptohoedojo Art Gallery, Jl. Solo km 9 (500m from airport), [42]. This fascinatingly weird sprawling complex houses an utterly eclectic collection of Indonesian art, ranging from abstract modern paintings and batik shirts through gamelan instruments and stuffed tigers to Papuan tribal totems complete with the skulls of vanquished enemies. Everything is for sale and previous customers, pictures of whom are proudly pasted on the walls, include Pope John Paul II and the Dalai Lama. While the adjoining restaurant looks quite attractive, the food served is rather disappointing.

Leksa Ganesha Batik Gallery, Tembi. Jl. Parangtritis 8.5km Timbulharjo Sewon Bantul, Jogjakarta, Indonesia 55186. ☎ +6274 646 3175/☎ +62812 2706 8768, [44]. This gallery just outside of Jogjakarta offers something a little different to Batik collectors: a chance to visit the studios of renown Batik artists and villages and meet with them as they work. Social Entrepreneur Tatang Wibowo started this project in 2011 as a way to continue supporting local artists of the area in an innovative tourism model. It's a rare opportunity to make a connection with the people who make Batik.

Kota Gede Silver, Kota Gede (± 6 kilometers southeastern Yogyakarta). Kota Gede is famous for silver processing. You can buy silver from craftmens or silver store. You can also learn to make silver in here. Kota Gede can be reached by TransJogja.

Eat

Sweet & chilli cuisine
It's not a big secret to Indonesian people that Yogyakarta people adore sweet foods. The local dish known as gudeg , for example, is distinctively sweet in flavor. Local snacks, such as bakpia dan yangko, are extremely sweet. However, not every local dish is sweet. Krecek—the orengeish fried beef often served with gudeg—is poignantly hot for untrained tongue. Lodeh made by the locals, even though often referred as 'too sweet' by non Jogja, still has a hint of the fiery chilli taste. Its a good idea to ask the food vendor whether the dish is hot or not. For those who are just curious, simply ask them to omit the chilli from the dish and serve it separately. This way you can still taste the original flavour of the dish, but if you can't handle the chilli flavor you can simply not adding the chilli into your meal!

Originally, Yogyakarta dishes were known for their sweetness. However, as more and more people move to Yogya, this small city starts seeing more diversity in flavor. Now you can find many kind of interesting dishes, ranging from sweet, to spicy, to fiery. Sometimes a fusion from other cuisines such as Chinese or Western can be found. Note that restaurants in the center often close quite early by Western standards, with admission often refused after 9PM.

Local delicacies

The following dishes should be on every traveller's agenda:

Gudeg, a curry of jackfruit, chicken and egg served with rice, and is the most famous local dish. Goopy slop in various shades of brown, the stuff does not look particularly appetizing, but it can be tasty if done right. There are many gudeg restaurants, but the most popular are: Gudeg Wijilan, Gudeg Juminten, Gudeg Bu Tjitro, Gudeg Tugu, Gudeg Bu Ahmad. If you can wake up early in the morning, you may find small stalls serving Gudeg just at the corner of the street, or close to traditional markets. If you can't sleep at night, you can go to Jalan Janturan and enjoy the Gudeg Pawon (enjoying gudeg inside the old style kitchen) that open in late night.

Nasi langgi, locally known as sego langgi (langgi rice). Warm rice served with various side dishes. Can be found in small stall in Gandekan St.

Kipo, bite size snacks made of green colored tapioca dough filled with sweetened grated coconut. Can be found in Kotagede.

Bakpia, another bite size snack made from sweetened greenbean paste wrapped with thin dough pastry. The most popular bakpia is known as Bakpia Patuk, which not surprisingly, are sold in Pathuk street, also known as Jl. Aip K.S. Tubun.

Jadah tempe, sandwich of rice cake and sweet beancake. Can be found in Kaliurang.

Es rujak or rujak es krim, a fruit salad made from mangos, papayas, apples, pineapples, cucumbers etc., mixed with palm sugar, lime juice, salt, chillies and (of course) ice cream (es krim). All flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty) in one plate. In case you are at UGM campus, have a look along Jalan Kaliurang. Small foodstalls sell es rujak there (only very late morning to early afternoon). If you are not close to UGM, keep your eyes open.

Angkringan, a food seller using hopper as store. The famous food sold here is Nasi Kucing (Cat Rice) that consists of a small serving rice with a sambal (chilies) or oseng-oseng and wrapped using a piece of paper or banana leaf. The most popular angkringan is Angkringan Lik Man, also known as Angkringan Tugu, located in Jalan Wongso Dirjan, north side of Yogyakarta Railway Station (Tugu Station). See Angkringan Tugu below. Angkringan usually opens from afternoon (2PM) or evening (6PM) until late night (1AM) or morning (4AM).

Budget

Pasar Tiban Kauman
During the Ramadhan fasting season, the local residents at Kauman area open a temporary market selling many kinds of appetizing snacks and dishes. This market is not only great for sampling local foods, but also great for experiencing old architecture as it is set on a long pathway of a classic Javanese neighborhood. It opens at around 3PM and closes at 6PM, as the foods are meant to be eaten for breaking the fasting at dusk. Consuming the food in the area before dusk, even if you are not fasting, is considered inappropriate. Kauman means the place for preachers since it is in the same block of the Masjid Agung (the sultan's royal mosque). It was home to many Islamic leaders such as Ahmad Dahlan, the founder of the mainstream Muhammadiyah movement.

Ramadan dates

28 Jun–27 Jul 2014 (1435 AH)

18 Jun–16 Jul 2015 (1436 AH)

6 Jun–5 July 2016 (1437 AH)

Exact dates depend on local astronomical observations and vary from one country to another.
Ramadan ends with the Eid ul-Fitr festival extendign over several days.

Yogyakarta is a heaven of inexpensive foods, and some tasty and filling dishes can be had for as low as US$0.25. There are hundreds, if not thousands of hawker stalls offering inexpensive foods.

Angkringan Tugu, hawker stall located close to the Tugu Station serving small rice packs (known as sego kucing) and various other foods, 6PM-4AM. The most popular beverages is kopi joss, Javanese espresso dipped with burning coal. Rp 1,000-6,000.

Rame Rame Vegetarian, Jl. Beskalan (Go south on Malioboro from Tugu train station until you reach an intersection with a large Ramaujana store, then turn right (west) onto Beskalan, continue for about 200 m. The restaurant is on the right (south) side of the street. There is a faded red banner advertising vegetarian food). A very small restaurant with meat and vegetarian options and owned by a very friendly woman. Has a delicious soup, noodles, mushrooms, vegetables, meatballs and cilantro for Rp 9,000.

Rumah Makan Es Ceria Jl. Gandekan Lor No. 42. (close to sraswijyan, just go west from hotels and turn left). Great, cheap eats -all in a huge smorgasboard, you choose what you like and then the cashier estimates a price. Tasty and dirt cheap. Also ice deserts and fruit shakes.

Sagan Super Sambal (.), Jl. Sagan I no. 5 and Jl. Timoho no. 111 (go east from Tugu Jogja, to Jl. Jendral Sudirman. At the first crossroad (with Gramedia in the corner), turn left (north) to Jl. Cik Ditiro. After 350 m turn right and go straight on until the end of the road with a T-junction; you will see the restaurant in the right corner of the T-junction), ☎+62 274 589279. Specialising in sambal, the Indonesian delicacy of spicy, hot chilli infused sauce. Also Indonesian style beef ribsRp 5,000-30,000. .

Soto Pak Soleh. Tegalrejo, near Diponegoro Museum. This well-known restaurant is Pak Soleh's family business and is now ran by his son. They only serve Yogyakarta-style beef soup as their main menu, which has a spicy taste from the added ginger. Rp 5,000.

Spesial Sambal. A local chain for those who like spicy, hot food. Their speciality, as the name suggests, is their various kind of sambal (sambal is a kind of hot relish). Rp 5,000-12,000.

Waroeng Steak. A local restaurant chain. Their speciality is batter-fried beef steak served with thick gravy. Rp 6,000-15,000.

Xtra Hot, Jl. Main, Kaliurang, (next to BCA Bank). A local tent (tenda) restaurant specialising in grilled food, with a good variety of sambals (chili) to choose from, yet with good prices. From Rp 4,500 (US$0.50).

Soto Sawah Pak Slamet. A local chicken soup store located at 5 km west side from Yogya, Open morning - afternoon. Rp 5,000

Soto Pak Marto A local delicacy of beef based soup served with rice (mixed in or separate), go to the one located near Keraton. Offals are include in unless specifically asked for beef only. Fried offals, ordered on the side to be eaten with kecap manis is very delicious.

The House of Raminten, Jl. Faridan Muridan Noto 7, (next to Mirota Bakery, can be reached using Trans Jogja bus). Javanese restaurant with traditional food and drink like jamu godhog (Indonesia's herbal recipe) and gudeg. Good place to sample local specialties in a sit-down environment; decor is a mix of traditional and funky. From Rp 5,000.

Kopi Joss Small stall 10 min walk from the Tugu Train Station (from Tugu Train Station turn left until you reach a boulevard then take another left turn, the coordinates on google maps is -7.788466S,110.3576E,). Small stall serves unique coffee called "Joss coffee/kopi joss" a glass of coffee mix with coal, Rp 3,000. While enjoying this glass of coffee, you can order nasi goreng kuning.

Mid-range

FoodFezt Jl. Kaliurang km 5.5, ☎ +62 274 554554, [45]. Many kinds of local Indonesian foods: Nasi kebuli, nasi merah, soto betawi, sate buntel, mushroom satay, and also dessert like pancakes, ice creams etc. It has a garden with lots of bamboo tree and other plants. The waiters use wireless gadgets to serve their customers in order to maintain a 'paperless' order system.

Sendang K Pitoe, a famous shrimp and sea food restaurant located on the outskirts of the city specifically Jamur, Minggir, Sleman. ☎ +62 274 747 1114. Very delicious fried shrimp served fresh from the ponds in the still relatively untouched village. Don't get mistaken by the nearby Mang Engking, also a shrimp restaurant with an ill-earned reputation of dirty food.

EasyGoIn', Jl. Prawirotaman No. 12, ☎ +62 (0)274 384 092 [46] A modern & colorful restaurant & bar serving delicious Indonesian and Western dishes in a comfortable and warm atmosphere. Also a great place for a Happy-Hour drink (2–7PM) at the bar while meeting locals and travelers. Pool table & Wifi are free of charge. Mains: Rp 25,000-60,000.

Via Via, Jl. Prawirotaman, An excellent traveller's cafe, there are clocks on the wall showing the time in other Via Via cafes around the world and a mix of travellers and Indonesian locals. Offers a range of western dishes (good french onion soup) and specialty Indonesian dishes at a good price. Caters very well to vegetarians (tofu and tempe). Cane chairs and lots of space and games. Rp 20,000-40,000.

KESUMA Restaurant (KESUMA Restoran), Jalan Sartono 827 / MJ III (Jalan Parangtritis Then Opposite side of Prawirotaman Local Market), ☎+62 274 8245027, [7]. 6PM-11PM; Lunch (12 - 2 PM) only available for reservations - Closed on Sunday. Javanese blend of Family Restaurant and Fine Dining Restaurant, in the tradition of the best Warungs. In this cozy and pleasant place you will find a fresh local home cooking. There is a small garden where guests can settle in a gazebo, the main room is in a Limasan, a traditional Javanese style wooden house. Rp 100 000 - 150 000 (Menu Suggestions). (-7.81982,110.3666)

Gajah Wong, Jl. Gejayan, ☎ +62 274 588294, [47]. Serves many kind of dishes including French, Italian, Indian, Chinese as well as Indonesian. Divided into 3 zones: Country, Javanese and Colonial, each is lavishly decorated and themed with live music. In the Javanese zone, you can hear the Javanese gamelan music performed throughout the night, while the Colonial zone has a live jazz band.

Androwino Bistro Jl. Laksda Adisucipto Km 8.7. ☎ +62 274 488588. The all day dining restaurant offering Continental and Asian cuisine in a relaxed modern Javanese setting. The restaurant is located at the top floor of Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa where at the entrance of the restaurant guests will be welcomed with a big painting of Grandfather from the hotel’s Owner named Sampean Dalem Ingkang Sinuhun Kandjeng Susuhunan Pakoe Boewono X, 1896 – 1939(King of Solo)and guests will see the beautiful landscaping of Tamansari water castle swimming pool and breathtaking mount Merapi.

Drink

Clubs

Liquid, Jl. Magelang (Near to Boshe VVIP Club). Pretty packed every night and free entry for ladies. Drinks are questionable is it fake or genuine, but pretty cheap. Live Music and DJs.

Embassy, ☎ +62 274 484950, in Sheraton Hotel complex area, next to hugo's club (there's a tunnel connecting the club). Entrance fee around IDR35000-100000, depends on the event. Full set DJs. Music range from trance, house, to dubstep. In this club you can trust that the drinks are genuine, but pretty pricey. Try going on Monday when they have event called Monday Madness 50% off. Usually they have a free flow from 10PM-2AM on the last thursday of every month with fee Rp 100,000/person.

Hugo's, ☎ +62 274 484208, in Sheraton Hotel complex area, next to hugo's club (there's a tunnel connecting the club). Entrance fee around Rp 35,000-100,000, depends on the event. Live Music and DJs. Live music play top 40 billboard songs and sometimes indonesian songs. Most favorite club for foreigners. Music range usually house or dutch house, or what people called pretty mainstream clubs music but pretty nice. In this club you can trust that the drinks are genuine, but pretty pricey. Try going on Monday when they have event called Monday Madness RnB Night 50% off. Usually they have a free flow from 10PM-2AM on the last thursday of every month with fee Rp 100,000/person.

Please note usually all clubs willing to give free entry before midnight if you call and ask for a guestlist, unless on an important event night.

Lounges

Lounges/cafes are an evergrowing phenomena throughout Indonesia's trendy inner city environments

Sleep

Budget

There are hundreds of budget hotels in Yogyakarta. Most of them can be found in Sosrowijayan St (Jalan Sastrowijayan on Google Maps) which is adjacent to Malioboro Street and the in Prawirotaman Rd area, which is about 3.5 km to the south of the centre.

Edotel. 4 Jl. Kenari. ☎ +62 274 558436. Neat hotel, which is run by students of the vocational high school next door so all the income benefits the school. The beds are big and cozy, and its in a great part of town, near the center but quiet. The student staff is wonderful and there arehot showers and WiFi in all rooms. It's worth noting however that Edotel is in a fairly conservative Muslim part of town - couples will not be able to share a room unless they are married, even same sex friends sharing a room can be problematic.

Monica Hotel, Jl. Sosrowijayan GT1/192, ☎ +62 274 580598. Newly renovated, clean place. Rp 60,000 standard room with fan and attached hot water bathroom, includes breakfast, toast and coffee/tea. Make sure to insist on getting a receipt and keeping it for the duration of your stay in the city. Rp 100,000 for 4 occupants room with fan and attached hot water bathroom.

Setia Kawan, Sosrowijayan Wetan GT.1/27, ☎ +62 274 512452. Artistic hotel down one of the two main alleyways ('gangs') close to the train station. Clean, comfortable, and imaginatively decorated rooms without windows (think Dali meets Indonesia). Perenially fully booked. Down the street is the owner's restaurant, offering a variety of Indonesian and vegetarian meals for cheap. If you sit at the rooftop be quiet, otherwise you may be kicked out without warning. From Rp 110,000, including breakfast.

ViaVia Guesthouse, Jl Prawirotaman Mg 3/514A, ☎+62(0)274 37 47 48, [14]. Some rooms have A/C and/or ensuite bathroom; every room is different, but all are clean and comfortable. WiFi is available. Breakfast is served at the guesthouse, plus they have an excellent restaurant and tourist agency nearby.Rp 150,000-200,000.

Wisma Gadjah Mada, follow Jl. Cik Di Tiro all the way to the UGM campus, hotel is on the east side of the road, just south of the main UGM "auditorium" building - you cannot miss the gigantic building looming in the background if you are coming to UGM from the south. . ☎ +62 274 563461, +62 274 557216, ([mail:university_club@gamamulti.com university_club@gamamulti.com]).

Ishiro Kencana Hotel, Jl. Kaliurang Km 4,2/7. ☎ +62 274 520230. Just north of the UGM campus, and very convenient for the Uni. Rooms are OK but bathrooms are horrible. Standard room Rp250K inc. breakfast.

Ministry of Coffee, Jl. Prawirotaman I/15A. . ☎ +62 274 376 057, +62 274 7473828, [www.ministryofcoffee.com]. Jalan Prawirotaman's most modern establishment, clean white sheets, fluffy doonas and AC, a pleasant place, check current price on their website. Each room has a unique decor and color scheme. The Ministry also has a coffee house, a library, and restaurant. The excellent choice of free breakfast sets makes this place great value for money. Friendly yet unassuming staff.

Novotel, Jl. Jendral Sudirman 89. ☎ +62 274 580930. Situated in the center of Yogyakarta city, this four star hotel is close to major destinations including Universitas Gadjah Mada, Malioboro, Sultan Palace (Kraton), and several shopping malls. Note; Novotel is south of Indraloka and Wisma Gadjah Mada.

Splurge

Villa Hanis Boutique Hotel, [54], ☎ +62 274 274 867567. Villa Hanis is an elegant original Javanese wooden house, fully restored into a modern standard boutique villa. It is in Jl. Palagan, 600 m north of the Hyatt hotel and about 5 km from the center of Yogyakarta. Villa Hanis has a 200 m2 private garden with private pool and view on the majestic Mount Merapi.

Pondok Terra Villa Accommodation Yogyakarta, Two luxurious villas in the centre of the town, just south of the Kraton area. Both are of a traditional Javanese style with private swimming pools an a 200 m2 garden. [56].

Stay safe

Like any other larger Indonesian city, Yogya has its share of petty crime like pickpocketing, especially in local city busses. Watch out for gallery scams and streetsellers trying to get commission for batik. These scams tend to occur around the Kraton and Jl. Malioboro. Scammers will approach tourists and tell them about a government art centre or school with fair prices, and will hire cheap transport or refer you to the 'genuine' gallery. However there are no official government sponsered galleries. This scam might kill a couple of nice hours when they explain how batik is being made, but in the end you're still being manipulated into buying too expensive art.

Take caution when walking by the city. Traffic is very brutal! You might have difficulty crossing roads and streets especially in crowded places.

An earthquake in 2006 caused severe damage. Mount Merapi last erupted during October-December 2010 causing many casualties and extensive damage, the volcano looms over the city.

Always travel in groups when you are travelling to or from Parangtritis beach. The long stretch between Yogya city and the beach are dangerous place at the night. You may get stopped by someone riding motorcycle trying to rob you. Police stations or posts are very little on these road, and unfortunately the posts are often unoccupied.

Watch out for Tour scams, e.g. "Bamboo Tours" on Prawirotaman 2.
Tours might not happen with funny excuses given and no upfront information.You might waste your day waiting for a car that´s never showing up.

Contact

The international country code for Indonesia is 62. The local area code for Yogyakarta is 274. There are three main telecommunication providers in Indonesia: Telkom Indonesia, Indosat and Excelcomindo. Coin operated public phones are limited in Yogyakarta. However there are many official telephone kiosks called Wartel.

International dialing

To make an IDD call from Indonesia, dial the access code 001 (for Indosat) and 007 (for Telkom), followed by the country code, area code and party's number.

Mobile phones

Mobile Phones are carried by almost everyone in Indonesia. Prepaid SIM cards are widely available from many telecommunication providers, such as, Telkomsel, XL, Indosat, 3, and Axis, just bring your own GSM 900 or GSM 1800 phone. The pre-paid SIM card costs around Rp 10,000 up to Rp 30.000. A local phone call costs between Rp 500-Rp 2,000/minute. Local text message (SMS) costs about Rp 150, while international SMS cost about Rp 300-500.

Also available for CDMA users, Telkom Flexi, Smartfren, And Esia which are cheaper, but you must have a RUIM CDMA phone.

Internet

There are many internet cafes in Yogyakarta which offer speedy access to the internet. Several hotels provide Wi-Fi on the lobby. Ask the front desk about internet access. The Taman Sari food court at the Plaza Ambarrukmo, coloquially known as Amplas, offers a free wireless internet service for any wifi compatible device.

The 24 hour Indomaret on Malioboro Street offers free wireless access as well as wall sockets, but can be a little noisy.

Get out

North

Make sure to factor in the astronomical $20 US entry fee for foreign tourists at Borobudur and $18 US at Prambanan before you show up. They of course accept the Indonesian equivalent. Free tea/coffe and bottled water included.

The massive Buddhist temple of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, is 40 minutes away by car and one of the main drawcards for visitors to Yogyakarta. Many tour buses (minivans) leave Yogyakarta at 5AM for an early visit to Borobudur. This is a convenient way to skip the crowds which arrive mid morning, although a little more expensive between Rp 45,000-50,000 (including a simple breakfast). However, the extra cost could save you money if tour participants chip in for a tour guide.

Kaliurang is a small town on the southern slope of Mount Merapi. One reason to visit this town is the Ullen Sentalu Museum[58], an exotic museum dedicated to the culture and life of Javanese royalty. The museum is built to the surrounding landscapes, with gardens, sculptures and an overall tranquil and natural environment. There is also a colonial-themed restaurant located in the grounds called Beukenhof.

Mount Merbabu & Mount Merapi, Central Java.

Ketep, a pass located in the slope between Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu offers a great vantage point for a spectacular view of both mountains. This site has a small cinema which regularly shows an interesting documentary of Mount Merapi. Located in Muntilan, east of Borobudur, 40 minutes from Yogyakarta by car.

It can work out quite economical if you rent a scooter for 50,000 a day and drive it to Borobudur and Prambanan instead of taking the tours. You'll need another 10-15,000 worth of petrol though. The roads to both sites are pretty wide and in good condition. If you leave early in the morning you can make it to Borobudur in a little under 60 mins. It's really quick and even cheaper if there are 2 people instead of one.

East

The Hindu temples of Prambanan, just 20 minutes away, are a close second to Borobudur. The smaller temples of Kalasan and others are on the way to Prambanan.

The city of Surakarta AKA Solo, a 45 minutes drive (also accessible with the Prambanan Ekspres train or the Joglosemar bus - see the Get In section) to the east is Yogya's royal twin and home to two royal kingdoms that are ancestrally related to Yogyakarta's Kingdom. The city's royal past is indicated through the two major keraton or palaces that are able to visited: the sprawling Keraton Kasunanan Surakarta, where the Pakubuwono kings live and the smaller but equally grand Pura Mangkunegaran palace, seat of Prince Mangkunegara. It is also a thriving arts and cultural center, home to the biggest batik manufacturers in Indonesia and the Danar Hadi Batik Museum, which has the most diverse batik collection in Indonesia. Last but not least Solo offers a wealth of culinary experience such as timlo (meat soup), its own soto or the fabled serabi (Javanese pancakes).

Ratu Boko palace, only 2 km north of Prambanan. An ancient royal palace complex, similar in architectural layout with other Kratons or palaces in Java. Magnificently located on top of a hill, Ratu Boko has been recently restored.

South

Parangtritis Beach.

Parangtritis on the south coast is one of the better known black sand beaches. Local folklore suggests that this beach is the palace of the legendary Nyai Loro Kidul or 'Queen of the South'. It is common knowledge among locals not to wear anything green in color, or the Queen will entice the wearer into the ocean to drown. Warning: Never swim at Parangtritis beach. Its wild waves are known to be extremely deadly (rip currents): many people have died who ignored these precautions. There are also other beaches with white sands, but you have to arrange with travel agent to rent a car with the driver as their locations are quite remote (2 hours from the city centre) in the hilly Gunung Kidul region. These beaches are pristine and sometimes off-the-beaten-path, such as Kukup beach, Krakal beach, Drini, Sundak beach and Baron but the swimming warning still applies.

Ngobaran Beach is located at Gunung Kidul region, 50 km from Yogyakarta. This is a pure beach with a number of marine attractions to explore. When the tide is low in the morning the visitors can join the local fishermen to collect seaweed or go fishing for stranded fish between the reefs at the beach. Some believe that somewhere in the beach lie the remains of King Brawijaya's fort and his men “Sabdo Palon Ngoyogenggong”. This beach includes a cave, which leads its explorers to a striking underground stream. If you go to Ngrenehan Beach for the grilled fish just drop by Ngobaran Beach , it has a high cliff and is around 2 km from Ngrenehan Beach. Many sea animal species are present in the coral reef and inter-tidal zones, ranging from sea urchin, starfish, to various types of cockleshells.

Ngrenehan Beach, Kanigoro Village, Saptosari. (about 30 km south of Wonosari). A small bay surrounded by rocky hills that has fascinating panorama and swirling waves hitting white sandy beach and rocky edge of the hills. The local fishermen can prepare fresh or grilled fish for visitors.

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